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Frieri, De La Rosa sharing closer's role

Frieri, De La Rosa sharing closer's role

8/2/13: Ernesto Frieri strikes out Emilio Bonifacio, stranding a baserunner and securing the win for the Angels in the top of the ninth

By William Boor
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MLB.com |

ANAHEIM -- Ernesto Frieri pitched two scoreless innings Saturday and has not allowed a run in his past three outings, but Angels manager Mike Scioscia is not quite ready to say Frieri is the closer again.

"I think you'll see Dane [De La Rosa] get some opportunities and you'll see Ernie get some opportunities," Scioscia said. "We have to be able to get those last three to six outs, and if they're both available, great. If one's down, the other guy is certainly a guy that can fill in."

Frieri has held the closer's role for the majority of the year but lost it during a two-week span in which he appeared in seven games and allowed 12 runs in 4 2/3 innings.

In 51 innings, Frieri has 76 strikeouts with a 4.41 ERA and 26 saves in 30 opportunities.

De La Rosa leads Angels pitchers in appearances with 56 and has a 3.56 ERA with one save in four chances.

"Dane's done a great job for us, Ernie looks like he's back on track," Scioscia said. "That'll impact a lot of things that can happen in the bullpen."

William Boor is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.